While you can’t always predict how your dog will react to a newborn, there are many things you can do to help your dog have the best possible introduction.
Plan ahead for the big day
Don’t forget to planning for your dog while you’re planning for your new baby. While some dogs will happily leave with a stranger (looking at you, Labradors), other dogs need more support. If you know your dog doesn’t like to be left alone, plan ahead!
Arrange for your dog’s care well in advance and have backup plans (not just one!)
Expert Tip: Have a plan B for if you need to stay at the hospital longer. You don’t want your dog stuck at home alone and under stress.
Best ways to introduce your newborn to the dog
There are 3 common ways to introduce your newborn to your dog:
- Baby in the car seat
- In your arms
- In the crib
In terms of location, a large open space – inside or outside – is the safest. Small, tight areas like entryways and hallways can increase the dog’s agitation and stress. You don’t want your dog to feel cornered, and you don’t want to be cornered by your dog. You need to be in control of the situation at all times.
Expert Tip: Placing the car seat on the floor with the baby strapped and giving your dog full access to explore the baby isn’t safe. Instead, be sure to read your dog’s body language and go slowly with the introduction.
Bringing a baby item home for your dog to smell is unnecessary.
As a trainer who taught and competed in scent detection classes, here’s my take on it. There are many smells on the newborn besides the baby’s scent: detergent, hospital smells, diaper cream or diaper smell, smells of anyone who touched the blanket/onesie, milk or formula smell, etc.
While your dog will detect the baby smell on the blanket, it’s just one of many scents. Your dog is exposed to new smells every day. Dogs learn that smells don’t matter unless they already have a strong association with a particular smell.
Expert Tip: There’s no harm in bringing the baby blanket home and offering your dog lots of love and a treat right after they smell it. Just know that one exposure is not make or break. It’s okay if you missed it or want to skip it!
Strategies to keep your dog calm and comfortable when first meeting your newborn:
- Make sure your dog has been well exercised.
- Greet your dog separately without the baby, if you can, to reduce your dog’s excitement and possible jumping.
- Give your dog time to calm down before meeting your newborn. It will also be helpful because your dog will be able to smell the baby’s scent on you.
Non-negotiable safety rules.
- Never leave the baby and dog together unsupervised (when awake or asleep).
- Get in the habit of putting yourself between the dog and the baby.
- Teach your dog to follow you whenever you step away from the baby.
Are you expecting? Congratulations!
Download the Dog Meets Baby Preparation Checklist. It is a great place to start your dog’s preparation.
- Introduce the baby sounds.
- Make a car safety plan.
- Decide on dog sleeping arrangements.
- Brush up on training, introduce baby equipment, stroller, and new routines.
- Have a solid Dog Meets Baby Plan. You can go through The First Meeting course a few days before your baby is born or even from your hospital bed!
